Sheryl Lowe, Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News

Cr Cameron Grundy has challenged Naracoorte Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart over “in confidence” meetings.

Cr Grundy has further questioned why council discussed the sale of a road reserve “in confidence” when he could not find a reason under the Local Government Act for it to be a secret.

The issue arose at council’s July 26 meeting in a segment Questions Without Notice.

Cr Grundy asked: “When deciding a meeting agenda item should be dealt with in camera or confidentially, which parts of the Local Government Act and what other references do those setting the agenda cite?

“What is the wording of the respective references?”

In his written response of more than two pages, Mr Smart said: “As part of preparing an agenda for council or committee meetings, some matters are considered by the CEO (himself) to be appropriate to be considered in-confidence – or with the exclusion of the public.

“Any such items are provided within a council meeting agenda as a CEO recommendation,” Mr Smart said.

“And elected members decide whether to actually discuss such matters in-confidence, taking into consideration the specific item, and provisions of the Local Government Act 1999.”

Mr Smart said those considerations were provided for within the Local Government Act.

He re-printed two pages of the Act as part of his response in the council’s July 26 agenda.

Cr Grundy thanked Mr Smart for his “comprehensive report”.

But Cr Grundy said at the end of the day it was “a subjective area”and confidentiality was up to the discretion of Mr Smart.

Mr Smart agreed there was “some subjectivity”.

But he believed it was ultimately up to elected members.

Cr Craig McGuire queried why Cr Grundy was asking about the confidentiality process.

Mayor Erika Vickery said the question could be taken on notice.

Cr Grundy said he was happy to answer it.

He referred to the road closure and sale of a road reserve listed “in confidence” at council’s June meeting.

“There was no commercial implication,” Cr Grundy said.

“There was no need in my opinion for that to be dealt with in confidence.”

Mrs Vickery finalised the debate, media were asked to leave and the council began its “in confidence” segment.

The first item listed “in confidence” was for a cattle yard upgrade at the saleyards.

The second matter was a contract at the saleyards for solid separation, and people expect such matters to be confidential.

The third secret item was a contract for bitumen works and the fourth was listed as the Business Innovation Grants Program 2022-23.

At the council’s June meeting, in addition to the closure and sale of a road reserve, a cleaning contract was discussed “in confidence”.

Of 38 items listed “in confidence” since July 1 last year, two “in confidence” matters refer to the CEO’s annual performance review. In May Mr Smart was awarded a contract for another five years, but his performance reviews remain “in confidence”.

Items such as the North Parklands, Naracoorte Regional Sports Centre and Town Rejuvenation Plan are discussed in “workshops” which have no agendas or minutes publicly available.

Similarly, matters such as the $60,000 controversial entrance statements council wants to put at Lucindale – regardless whether the town wants them or not – are a secret.

Council’s own self-appointed “working group” which made the decision operates behind closed doors with no agendas, and no minutes publicly available. And no interested locals are allowed to sit in on meetings.

Council appoints all of its working groups, which operate behind closed doors.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.